Reliance Communications & Reliance Industries to share Fibre Optic Network!

Reliance Communications Ltd - India’s second largest telecom operator is currently in the news for a deal between Reliance communications ltd and Reliance Industries ltd in which the latter would be using the fibre optic network of Reliance Communications. The deal is expected to be benefitting both the companies. The news triggered the surging of Reliance Communications Ltd. on NSE and BSE. Presently the stock is trending petite and saw a gain of 7.3%. According to the last 52-week price change dynamics, it was perched lowest at Rs.46.55 and highest at Rs. 91.85.

Moreover, a bullish feature has been created for Reliance Communication with Morgan Stanley investment bank upgrading the company’s status from ‘equal weight’ to ‘overweight’. It is the Rs 12 billion fibre optic network sharing deal that raised the stature of the company. Furthermore, the company’s fiscal earning is estimated to rise by 125 percent in 2014. Additional deals, according to Morgan Stanley, could cut the company’s net debt by 77 billion rupees. Morgan Stanley upgraded Reliance Industries to "overweight" from "underweight" earlier in March '13 where it raised it's price to 961 rupees from 798 rupees.

Also, the market sentiment for Reliance has also improved on the fact that the friction between the Ambani brothers seems loosing with the sharing of fibre optic network giving advantage to both Reliance Communications as well as Reliance Industries.

The Rising Inflation Phenomenon!

It is no big surprise for inflation to go high. India February inflation data well justifies the fact. The Feb WPI (main inflation indicator) went up to an annual 6.84 percent, which is higher by 0.30 percent of what analysts estimated. It was 6.62 percent in January. Non-food inflation slowed to 3.8 percent during the same period. February Inflation data report surged the otherwise falling India Stock market.

To add to this economic disadvantage is incessant weakness in economic activities. The situation has generated hopes amongst analysts about a possible rate cut by the RBI by at least 25 basis points in the meeting scheduled on Tuesday, March 19.

It was in January that the RBI had cut its key lending rate by 25 basis points after a gap of 9 months. A rate cut would only help handling the crisis. With the govt all geared up to reduce the country’s fiscal deficit, more RBI rate cuts are probable in the forthcoming months.

Nifty and Sensex showed improvement after the Feb WPI report came and the main contributors were banking stocks!

Mixed criticisms for Budget 2013

Had not welfare spending given some importance in Budget 2013 (though not the big way), extreme poverty could not be tackled. But then overall, Union Budget 2013 is practical! An unchanged sovereign rating is another outcome of the budget.

No wonder structural imbalances cause macro-economic challenges and the budget hardly addresses them. It is rightly conjectured Mauritius tax treaty could have been avoided, especially when statistics prove that 40 percent of foreign in-flows come through this path.

Measures like additional tax break for first home owners, implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, higher govt. borrowing, are indeed appreciable not to mention debt fund investments (for a year). The common man’s struggle against inflation and negative real return on investments and income seem to continue. ‘Taxing on the rich’ is no big solution! The Direct Taxes Code can only deliver some change.

The big challenge for Chidambaram now remains of meeting the 4.8 percent of GDP fiscal deficit target next fiscal. You can read the complete article here
http://blogs.reuters.com/india-expertzone/2013/03/05/budget-2013-a-rather-ambitious-budget/

Reaction of rating agencies for Budget 2013

Yes, Union Budget 2013 is indeed realistic. Reaction of rating agencies substantiates the fact. Moody's Investor Service said that the initiatives introduced can help meeting India's fiscal deficit target at 4.8 percent of GDP, which will pave the way for positive credit ratings. But this is an overall comment; there are issues that are challenging. Meeting the growth targets in few areas will remain challenging. The revenue and spending issue cannot be ignored as well.

So, India is all geared up for an economic growth revival. According to reaction of rating agencies such as Moody's it was sharp spending cuts that has helped the country meet its fiscal deficit target of 5.2 percent of GDP, ending March fiscal 2013. The same commitment needs to be retained ahead.

According to Moody's, the selling of stakes in public companies was less, which led to raising of less money though at the same time budget targets being not met during the past several years.

You can read the complete article here –
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/03/04/india-ratings-moodys-budget-idINDEE92303I20130304

Chidambaram’s boldness well exhibited in Union Budget 2013

Yes, P. Chidambaram did live up to the country’s expectations, as exhibited by his Budget 2013. Problems facing India at the time when he held the finance minister’s portfolio were slow economic growth, downgrade credit rating, growth, high fiscal deficit, high interest rates, stubborn inflation, high budget, and insufficient investment. Union Budget 2013 explicitly focuses on these setbacks; Chidamabaram is resisting fiscal suicide!

Union Budget 2013 Show Ups
·        Limit to govt spending
·        No big expansion in subsidies
·        Limit govt net borrowings to 4.84 trillion rupees
·        Ending of the arresting of household financial savings
·        Levy of 10 percent surcharge for rich taxpayers
·        Focus on in-flow of foreign funds
·        Hopes of 19 percent increase in tax collections next year.

Fiscal consolidation measures of the Union Budget 2013 should certainly improve the nation's overall financial savings. But investors of the stock market are disappointed on the cuts in govt. spending. Thanks to Chidambaram’s tough and bold decision. It is now to wait and watch the implementation and outcomes of Budget 2013!

The above post is based on the expert opinion of Andy Mukherjee. You can read the complete article here:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/28/india-union-budget2013-breakingviews-idINDEE91R09L20130228?type=economicNews

Budget 2013 to boost investor confidence

Yes, it is a poll-year Union budget and P. Chidambaram is all geared up to prop up investor confidence by implementing measures rather than on pre-election spending, recommending his cabinet colleagues to maintain austerity. Stressing on the fact that wasteful expenditure may further downgrade rating of Indian economy to ‘junk’ besides setting off an economic meltdown, the finance minister advocated tackling the bloated fiscal deficit as priority, pointing out that India is on the right track.

Chidambaram’s recent road show has been an attempt to attract in-flow of foreign funds. Only tax revenues cannot be relied upon to meet the growth objectives. Other areas which are expected to be given priorities in the Union Budget are avoiding unnerving investors, slashing public spending, ensuring efficient tax collection, and more.

Few cabinet colleagues are against Chidambaram’s cuts on welfare spending. But if spending is not cut, the fiscal deficit would be further hit; glaring example is Delhi missing its fiscal deficit target due to over-spending on social welfare and subsidies.

The above post on India Budget 2013, You can read the complete article here -

http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/india-budget-chidambaram-populist-electi-idINDEE91O0KJ20130226

India Budget 2013 – reviewing incentives and exemptions

To reduce budget deficit, it is saving every rupee that P. Chidambaram has committed. This very commitment is expected to be met in the India Budget 2013. One of the measures towards meeting this objective is certainly withdrawing of tax incentives which have outlived their purpose. Incentives are the loss of revenue caused by the difference between prescribed rates in general and effective rates of taxation. Of course, incentives and exemptions are measures implemented to defuse inflation, promote exports, and benefiting backward areas.

Total loss from taxation is estimated at 936 billion rupees including 148 billion rupees from the corporate sector, 284 billion rupees from individual tax payers from savings incentives, 4.35 trillion rupees (major loss) from excise and customs; firms are no exception. Effectiveness of all incentives should be reviewed. Change of non-effective incentives is suggested while those no longer necessary should be withdrawn.

The above post on India Budget 2013 is based on expert opinion by D H Pai Panandiker, President, RPG Foundation. You can read the complete article here -
http://blogs.reuters.com/india-expertzone/2013/02/13/union-budget-2013-need-to-review-tax-incentives/ 

Control on Expenditure for Positive Economic Growth!

P. Chidambaram was well aware of Union Budget 2012 being not up to expectations. With elections round the corner and with the country exhibiting decelerating economic growth, the finance minister is expected this time to present a positive Union Budget 2013 with special emphasis on growth.

Yes, Union Budget 2013 can fuel the economy; P. Chidambaram should give the big push now. Special emphasis should be laid on trimming expenditure. With GDP growth going lower than 5.3 percent and with the urgent need to implement measures to control fiscal deficit, restraint on expenditure is a must. Because if expenditure, which is at 14 percent at present, is not trimmed, taxation will see a rise! And changing income tax rates will not only dampen foreign investor confidence but also affect the industry and common man alike. Though GST can boost revenues, its implementation is unfeasible for roughly another two years.

What the finance minister can do is taxing conspicuous consumption, reduce spending on subsidies, and follow more measures.

The above post is based on expert opinion by D H Pai Panandiker, President, RPG Foundation.
You can read the complete article here -
http://blogs.reuters.com/india-expertzone/2013/01/30/budget-2013-should-trim-expenditure/

Budget 2013 - Creating the Lost Interest!

The same routine measures, policy paralysis, non-innovative and non-inventive inclusions – for over a decade these are what the budget delved on, thus losing its wow factor. But Union Budget 2013 is generating some interest!

Besides dealing with fiscal and current account, P. Chidambaram has to make the citizens happy (thanks to the approaching elections!). For bringing down deficit to 3 percent of GDP in five years, as projected, Union Budget 2013 should focus on the following:

· Cut down on plan expenditure sensibly
· Reduce subsidy using Aadhaar
· Introduce welfare schemes for the poor
· Bring more service sunder tax net
· Rationalize the indirect tax structure
· Border-less movement of products within India (via GST implementation)
· Implement tax measures to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio
· Encourage household savings
· Effectively implement Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme
· Accelerate momentum of exports
· Ease credit norms
· Remove infrastructure bottlenecks
· Encourage FII and FDI fund flows
· Limit borrowing and wasteful expenditure
· Control of inflation, and more.
 

The above post is based on expert opinion by Rajagopal is the Head Advisory and a member of the investment committee at Kotak Mahindra (UK) Ltd. You can read the complete article here -
http://blogs.reuters.com/india-expertzone/2013/02/14/union-budget-2013-awe-factor-kotak-rajagopal/.

Breaking News of Indian stock market!

Yes, it is a war of the bourses now, with the country’s new stock exchange MCX-SX commencing trading of shares today. The volume was thin, though the challenge was building liquidity and winning market share against the two bourses, NSE and BSE.

While NSE saw its value of shares traded at 34.3 billion rupees, MCX-SX was at 1.5 million rupees. It is to wait and watch. Only time will tell!

What is breaking news in the Indian market, especially related to quarterly results, is Tata Power Company Ltd shares registering a third quarter loss, surprising investors and analysts at large. Yes, analysts expected a net profit of 2.7 billion rupees.

Cause of the loss was a blend of foreign exchange losses and higher finance and depreciation costs. Compared to profit generated at Rs. 2.98 billion rupees in December 2011, a net loss of 3.29 billion rupees in December 2012 is posted.

What the IT sector wants from Union Budget 2013?

What NASSCOM has portrayed about IT as a booming industry despite global economic volatility is well attested by the positive performance of the many IT companies. IT contributes 7.5 percent of India’s GDP besides sustaining the livelihoods of 11.7 million plus Indians.

So, what does the IT industry want from the Union Budget 2013? Here are key expectations:
·        Resolving of existing hassles over tax (direct and indirect) issues
·        Implementation of fair amendments in GAAR
·        Discontinuation or reduction of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) levied on SEZs
·        Clarity on transfer pricing, removing confusion regarding taxation of multiple companies of the same group.

The spate of reforms introduced by the government since September has moderately contributed towards economic boost. The IT industry likewise expects Union Budget 2013 to focus on reformative measures the big way. It is then that this sector will earn global acclaim – the evolution from BPO (business process outsourcing) to BPM (business process management).

The above post is based on expert opinion by Keshav R. Murugesh,CEO and member Board of Directors of WNS Global Services. You can read the complete article here -
http://blogs.reuters.com/india-expertzone/2013/02/07/budget-2013-wishlist-it-industry-expects-policy-changes/

NTPC stake sale and HDFC’s reduction of floating interest rates!

Good news is an indication of further good news! With the government selling stake in NTPC, inflow of foreign funds saw a rise. The sale was executed, towards raising about $2 billion, in an effort to raise funds. The raised amount would be used to meet its fiscal deficit target. This event saw the rupee strengthening to its highest closing level in three-and-a-half months.

With the NTPC stake sale, the rupee would have gained further had not domestic shares weakened and oil importers had not demanded for the greenback.

Another event worth mentioning is India's biggest housing finance company, Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), announcing its move to reduce its prime lending rate by 10 basis points.

The bank’s floating interest rates are high and this move would reduce the same:
· For loans of up to 3 million rupees - 10.15 percent reduction
· For loans of more than 3 million rupees - 10.40 percent reduction.